Arteta pledges 100 per cent effort to rejoin the elite and only wants players who are optimistic and keen
MIKEL ARTETA has set his sights high for the coming season.
And that is even before Arsenal complete all of their transfer business this summer.
With a sense of bullish confidence, Arteta insisted: “It doesn’t matter who we have, we will challenge for the top, 100 per cent.”
Arteta regards the traditional season curtain raiser – against Liverpool at Wembley tomorrow – as a chance to send a message of intent from an Arsenal team which finished on a high, but can get so much better.
This is Arteta’s first full season in charge, having taken over in December, and he has already set about stamping his authority.
They have brought in Willian on a free transfer from Chelsea, are on the brink of tying down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract and completing a £27million deal for Lille defender Gabriel.
There will still be plenty more ins and outs but Arteta’s infectious enthusiasm has already attracted players.
Willian admitted that Arteta persuaded him to sign a threeyear contract by promising that they can get back into the Champions League and win the trophy.
That might seem a lofty ambition but the top four is a gamechanger for the Gunners both in financial terms and also getting back on the big European stage.
When asked about the threeyear plan he shared with Willian, Arteta said:
“Well, it is the right spirit! I want players who are optimistic and willing, and they want to win for our club.
“That is the feeling I got from the first day I met Willian – he is not satisfied with what he has done in his career, which is a lot, and he is going to bring some special qualities for
our team – and the right type mentality.
“Let’s see how we look like at the end of the transfer window. It just started and everything looks pretty slow.
“Not many teams are moving aggressively so a lot of things are going to happen from now to October 6.”
It was a challenging first campaign in charge for Arteta which he turned around after inheriting a mess from Unai Emery. The FA Cup triumph was the passport to Europe and a much-needed financial boost. Arsenal beat Liverpool during the run-in, upset Manchester of attitude and
City in the FA Cup semis and then Chelsea in the final.
Results like that were huge for Arteta because they made his players believe in his vision.
He said: “I think it gave us a big platform of confidence and belief that we could challenge and play against the top teams.”
Arteta talked about a clean slate for Matteo Guendouzi who fell out of favour, while Mesut Ozil was also missing.
But this summer will be more about trying to offload unwanted players to try to freshen things up to build an even stronger platform.
Arteta talks a good game but his message to Guendouzi was exactly the same as to Ozil – and he was ostracised. But the ambition is crystal clear.
Arteta added: “I have been really clear that everybody starts from zero all the time in football. What you did two weeks ago or two years ago doesn’t really matter. It’s what you are able to contribute to the team now.” GUNNING FOR THE TOP